Terry Reid, Revered Artist Who Turned Down To Be Led Zeppelin’s Lead Singer, Dies At 75

Singer-songwriter Terry Reid, a celebrated musician who nearly became the lead singer of Led Zeppelin, died Aug. 4, The Guardian reported. He was 75.

The artist’s U.K. representative confirmed the news with the British publication. No cause of death was revealed, but Reid had been receiving cancer treatment in recent months, according to The Guardian.

A GoFundMe page for Reid was set up in July to assist him in his cancer treatment, and the post revealed that he had to cancel a six-week tour because of his health.

Angela Bruyere, who organized the GoFundMe for Reid, posted an update on the page confirming his death.

“On the morning of August 4^th at 11:15 a.m., Terry transitioned peacefully surrounded by those who meant the most to him, his loving wife Annette and his adoring daughters Kelly and Holly,” Bruyere wrote. “Terry met every challenge with remarkable courage and an unshakable optimism. Even in his final days, he believed with all of his heart that he would recover. He sat up and played guitar just 3 days ago.”

Reid, who was nicknamed “Superlungs,” released five critically acclaimed albums between 1968 and 1978 but never had much success on the charts. He was respected by iconic artists like The Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin, who was famously quoted in 1968 saying, “There are only three things happening in England: the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, and Terry Reid.”

The esteemed singer was born and raised in Cambridgeshire, England. He began playing guitar as a teenager and was part of the Readbeats, who opened for Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers in 1965. He impressed artists and fans wherever he went and performed gigs with acts like The Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds and Ike and Tina Turner.

When the Yardbirds disbanded, Jimmy Page asked Reid to join his new band, an offer he declined. Reid recommended singer Robert Plant, and that band became the legendary Led Zeppelin.

Plant honored Reid in an Instagram post on Tuesday, saying his “enthusiasm and encouragement were incredible back then.”

“He was all of everything … such charisma,” Plant wrote. “His voice, his range … his songs capturing that carefree era … Superlungs indeed. He catapulted me into an intense new world he chose to decline … I listen now to his album The River and shed a tear for my brother in arms.”

Reid was also offered to join Deep Purple as lead singer after Rod Evans left the band in 1969.

Many of Reid’s songs have been covered by artists like Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Hollies, Cheap Trick, Joe Perry, Jack White and Chris Cornell.

Rick Springfield also honored Reid in a post, saying he “was a huge fan” of the British songwriter.

“One of the absolute top voices of all rockdom,” Springfield wrote.

Reid was a road warrior late in his career, performing in small venues across the U.K. as recently as last October. He had a successful two-night stand at Haymarket Lounge at City Winery Boston in 2019, grossing $3,600 off 120 tickets sold, according to Pollstar Boxoffice.